Congratulations on taking the first step in your property investing career!

It's a big step but one that could change your life.

There are lots of things to think about and its important that you do things right. Learn from others who have made mistakes so you don't have to make the same ones! Access our Expert Panel to connect with our experts for free of charge advice.

The fundamentals of property investing are the nuts and bolts of your business. Ensuring that you have a great team around you will help towards your success.

Understanding the legal aspects of buying a property and having a great conveyancing solicitor in place is really important. Also having access to the right finance is the key to securing those great deals once you find them.

We recently chatted to our expert insurance panelist, John Cox from Insurance Desk about reasons why we should protect our rental properties with a rent guarantee.
John owns Insurance-Desk Services which is an independent, friendly broker. They've been working with clients for over 14 years and consistently provides competitive quotes year on year on landlords, tenants, portfolio and commercial insurance policies as well as many other types of insurance.
John founded Insurance-Desk Services to aid many landlords who at the time were finding it increasingly difficult to insure properties that have tenants who were on benefits.
We asked John why he thought that using a Rent Guarantee was a good idea.
Protecting your rental income should be a must if you want continuous rental profits and/or need to keep up with a mortgage. Rent Guarantee cover ensures rental income is not compromised even if your tenants fall into arrears
The provider that...

What are the MEES regulations?
The Energy Efficiency Regulations are designed to tackle the least energy-efficient properties in England and Wales – being those rated F or G on their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). The MEES regulations restrict landlords of domestic property from granting tenancies for properties which fall below the minimum energy efficiency standard. Landlords will also be prohibited from continuing pre-existing tenancies, after 1st April 2020 if the property falls below this standard.
How will tenants benefit from the Regulations?
An energy efficient home will reduce the cost of energy bills for tenants; and in particular the elderly and vulnerable during the winter months. Properties falling below the energy-efficiency standard contribute to avoidable greenhouse gas emissions, therefore increasing the energy efficiency of properties would go some way in counteracting this problem.
What are the benefits for landlords?
Energy efficient residential properties can reduce the long term maintenance costs...

Parents and grandparents can help children buy their own home without having to hand over money.
It’s no surprise so many young people feel their dreams of owning a home are slipping out of reach. A new report by the Resolution Foundation has found that one in three UK millennials will never own a home and half will be renting into their 40s.1
Meanwhile, the latest data shows that house prices have increased by 30% since early 2013, and 54% in London, bringing the average UK house price to £211,792.2
With property prices continuing to soar, many first-time buyers will feel their only option is to turn to the bank of mum and dad – or even granny and grandad – to help them buy their first home. Nowadays, around 60% of under-30s get help from their family to buy a home3, while one in ten grandparents have gifted grandchildren...

Richard Hamilton – Head of Property at Davis Blank Furniss – answers this interesting query.
Question:
I am the freehold owner of a building that is used as a workshop. Until recently, the building was occupied by an individual under a tenancy at will. Suddenly, and without warning, the tenant vacated the building but left behind various tools. He did not give any notice to me and has not left any forwarding address.
Rent was paid in cash and I have no official record or other means to trace the tenant. I would like to try and recover the small amount of rent due and I want to get on with reletting the building. What should I do about the tools? They are bulky and I do not want the cost or responsibility of storing them. I would prefer to sell them and keep the money as compensation for the...

An increasing number of landlords are choosing to register as a limited company to manage their portfolios.
There are a couple of different types of limited company you can set up, whether this is a trading company or a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). This is a company set up for the purposes of holding property and nothing else, this approach is mainly for those who are part time landlords. Whichever you choose, we look at why you might want to consider becoming a limited company, and the potential and pitfalls of doing so.
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Changes to mortgage interest relief
In the past, private landlords could claim back the interest on their buy-to-let mortgages when completing their Income Tax returns. And landlords in the higher 40% and 45% tax brackets could also claim tax relief at this higher rate.
The Government is now phasing this...